HomeMy WebLinkAboutArts Commission minutes 101215 FROM: Orange County Arts Commission
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting
DATE: October 12, 2015
LOCATION: Orange County Public Library, Hillsborough
MEMBERS PRESENT: Ian Bowater, Doris Friend, Debb Hepp,Tinka Jordy,Andrea Riley, Kim Roberts,
Jennifer Shelton,Joy Salyers, Scott Van Manen
MEMBERS ABSENT: Lynne Albert, Geoffrey Hathaway,Tim Hoke, Bronwyn Merritt,Ashley Nissler
STAFF PRESENT: Martha Shannon
Meeting called to order at 6:35 PM
Topic A
Discussion Point: Welcome New Members
Decision/Vote(s): All members introduced, including new members Andrea Riley and Jennifer Shelton.
Action Item: None
Topic B
Discussion Point: Review of September 2015 Minutes
Decision/Vote(s): Discussion of minutes. Report of Nominating Committee will be added.
Action Item: September 2015 Minutes were approved, as amended.
Topic C
Discussion Point: Director's Report
Decision/Vote(s): Composer and tap dancer Michelle Dorrance of Chapel Hill has received a MacArthur
Foundation Genius Award. Laken Geiger(publicist for SPARKcon)will be our guest presenter on social
media for artists at our November 20, 2015 Artists' Salon. If he responds, Mike Williams (ArtsNowNC,
News&Observer) may participate as well. Both were recommended by Sarah Powers at Raleigh's Visual
Art Exchange. OCAC's October e-newsletter went out on October 6, 2015 to 857 emails.This e-newsletter
was opened 28.5%and 23.5%was clicked through. OCAC has received a resignation from Kate Dickson
due to a potential work-related move. One Volunteer Applicant(Judy Morris) has applied.Triangle Visual
Artists is still interested in the Whitted Building Art Exhibit space, but want to know when the lighting
upgrades will be finished. Because they have several shows coming up this fall,they may need to wait
until January to exhibit at Whitted for a trial run (especially if the lighting upgrades are not finished soon).
No set policies in place at this time. BOCC wants OCAC to find artists to jury and show their artwork on a
rotating basis. Art exhibits could be changed on a quarterly basis. Whitted art exhibit space still has no
offices located on the 2nd floor-just meeting rooms. Brief discussion on ways to increase foot traffic
(scavenger hunts, First Fridays, events)for that space. Discussion about selling raffle tickets via OCAC
board members, etc. and County Manager's suggestions that OCAC fund raise. Will continue the
discussion about fundraising at our November OCAC board meeting. Brief discussion ensued about what
to include in next Annual Report and Work Plan, due December 18, 2015.
Action Item: Board members voted to suggest Volunteer Applicant Judy Morris for possible appointment.
Topic D
Discussion Point: CHOCVB Liaison,Ad Hoc Committee Updates
Decision/Vote(s): Debb Hepp spoke about CHOCVB efforts to make Tarheel Downtown a bigger event.
She also reported that CHOCVB discussed need for more outdoor community space for concerts, etc.
Debb Hepp reported that the e-newsletter was in a new format.There could be additional ways to include
data on the website and signing up for the e-newsletter. What other data should we be collecting?
Market research project deadline for RFPs is October 12, 2015 and a decision on an agency could be made
at our next meeting.
Action Item: None
Topic E
Discussion Point: Increased FY16 Grassroots Allocation
Decision/Vote(s): An additional $2,010 in FY16 Grassroots funds has been granted to Orange County
from the General Assembly via the NC Arts Council. Our June 8, 2015 board meeting minutes state that if
additional FY16 Grassroots funds were received,the board wanted to use them to increase the funding of
one Spring 2015 grant recipient and possibly help support OCAC programs. Debb Hepp mentioned 2 bills
that need to be paid (2016 Piedmont Laureate and 2016 Emerging Artists contributions). Staff stated that
we can pay these bills from other OCAC budget line items, as we have sometimes done in the past.
Action Item: Staff will provide suggestions for specific line items available to fund these OCAC programs.
Topic F
Discussion Point: Agenda Additions/Old Business/New Business
Decision/Vote(s): Brief discussion continued about advocacy,fundraising, possibly streamlining amount
of paper for board meetings.
Action Item: None
Topic G
Discussion Point: Calendar
Decision/Vote(s): October 30, 2015—2015 Piedmont Laureate James Maxey Reading "Silent as Dust" at
Burwell School in Hillsborough. December 1, 2015—Fall 2015 Grant Deadline. December 14, 2015—
Combined OCAC Board/Grant Allocation meeting in Carrboro. Our next OCAC board meeting will be
Monday, November 9, 2015 from 6:30-7:30 pm in the Meeting Room at the Orange County Public Library
(137 W. Margaret Lane) in Hillsborough.
Action Item: None
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM